ould find the likeness to a stone upon a
face of flesh. And as he was wandering about at random, turning
continually to this side and that, like a thief in fear of the
constables, he met a beggar carrying an hospital of plasters and a
mountain of rags upon his back, who said to him, "My gallant sir, what
makes you so frightened?"

"Have I, forsooth, to tell you my affairs?" answered Jennariello.
"Faith I should do well to tell my reason to the constable."

"Softly, my fair youth!" replied the beggar, "for the flesh of man is
not sold by weight. If Darius had not told his troubles to a groom he
would not have become king of Persia. It will be no great matter,
therefore, for you to tell your affairs to a poor beggar, for there is
not a twig so slender but it may serve for a toothpick."

When Jennariello heard the poor man talking sensibly and with reason,
he told him the cause that had brought him to that country; whereupon
the beggar replied, "See now, my son, how necessary it is to make
account of every one; for though I am only a heap of rubbish, yet I
shall be able to enrich the garden of your hopes. Now listen--under the
pretext of begging alms, I will knock at the door of the young and
beautiful daughter of a magician; then open your eyes wide, look at
her, contemplate her, regard her, measure her from head to foot, for
you will find the image of her whom your brother desires." So saying,
he knocked at the door of a house close by, and Liviella opening it
threw him a piece of bread.

As soon as Jennariello saw her, she seemed to him built after the model
which Milluccio had given him; then he gave a good alms to the beggar
and sent him away, and going to the inn he dressed himself like a
pedlar, carrying in two caskets all the wealth of the world. And thus
he walked up and down before Liviella's house crying his wares, until
at length she called him, and took a view of the beautiful net-caps,
hoods, ribands, gauze, edgings, lace, handkerchiefs, collars, needles,
cups of rouge, and head-gear fit for a queen, which he carried. And
when she had examined all the things again and again, she told him to
show her something else; and Jennariello answered, "My lady, in these
caskets I have only cheap and paltry wares; but if you will deign to
come to my ship, I will show you things of the other world, for I have
there a host of beautiful goods worthy of any great lord."

Liviella, who was full of curiosity, not to belie